Our Vision That the public is appropriately informed and educated regarding children’s vision and eye health, the need for preventive care and the avenues for achieving it.

What We Know

• There is a lack of understanding of when children can begin to experience vision problems. According to a recent survey, 27 percent of parents who have not taken their children for an eye exam recently believe that their children are too young to experience vision problems.¹




• One in five persons regard eye exams as only being necessary when a vision problem arises or when they need a pair of eyeglasses or a new vision prescription.²




• Slightly more than 50 percent of people claim they do not know the difference between a “vision screening” and an “eye exam.”³




• A leading preschool vision screening study recommends that public awareness about the importance of preschool vision screening should be improved through a national public health campaign.⁴

Our Positions

Prevent Blindness America believes in the importance of education and information in affecting behavioral change. We are committed to ensuring that vision-related information is available, accurate and accessible; and to promoting positive messaging related to children’s vision and eye health.

Our Efforts

In the best interests of the nation’s children, Prevent Blindness America commits to increasing public awareness and understanding of the importance of children’s vision and eye health by:

1. Creating and implementing a comprehensive communications action plan to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of children’s vision and eye health and safety among thegeneral public.




2. Producing and distributing a national video and audio public service announcement targeted at children’s vision and eye health.




3. Continuing the distribution of print public service announcements and media outreach materials related to monthly awareness topics.

References

1. Vision Council of America. VisionWatch research document. September 2006.
2. Vision Council of America. VisionWatch research document. June 2005.
3. Ibid.
4. Hartmann EE, Bradford GE,Chaplin PK, Johnson T, Kemper AR, Kim S, Marsh-Tootle W; Project universal preschool vision screening: a demonstration project. Pediatrics. 2006;117:226-237.